Inhibition of the Growth of Peas by Tris-(2-Diethylaminoethyl)-Phosphate Trihydrochloride

The effects of Tris-(2-diethylaminoethyl)-phosphate trihydrochloride (SK&F 7997-A(3)) on the development of 4 varieties of Pisum sativum were investigated. The compound inhibited shoot elongation of all 4 varieties by as much as 50% or more when seeds were soaked in solutions of the inhibitor for 12 hours before planting. Seed treatment also affected flowering by causing an increase in the number of nodes to the first flower in the early varieties Little Marvel and Alaska. The number of nodes preceding the first flower in the late varieties Dwarf and Tall Telephone was not affected by high concentrations of SK&F 7997-A(3), but low concentrations appeared to cause a slight reduction in the number of nodes to flower.The inhibitor had little effect on growth when applied to established seedlings; some slight inhibition was noted when high doses were applied to the shoot tip.SK&F 7997-A(3) suppressed the growth response of dwarf and tall peas to exogenous GA(3). The compound did not inhibit biosynthesis of gibberellin by Fusarium moniliformc when present in shaken liquid cultures at concentrations as high as 10 mg/ml. The inhibitor suppressed the action of applied GA(3) on shoot elongation when the 2 chemicals were applied in 3 ways: 1) inhibitor on lowermost compound leaf and GA(3) on shoot tip; 2) GA(3) on lowermost leaf and inhibitor on shoot tip; and 3) soaking of seeds in the 2 compounds combined for 12 hours prior to planting. The third method of dual treatment yielded evidence that SK&F 7997-A(3) interacts noncompetitively with GA(3) in the regulation of shoot elongation.